Drop bottom mine car



July 22, 1941.

H. W. SANFORD DROP BOTTOM MINE: CAR

Original Filed Dec 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 22, 1941. H. w. SANFORD Re. 21,862

DROP BOTTOM MINE GAR Original Filed Dec. 17, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 212, 1941. w,s 0 Re. 21,862 I DROP BOTTOM MINE CAR Original Filed Dec. 17 1952 s Sheets-Sheet s F/6 6. EZiZ 55; i k n 1% w 6 w duo: m1

Jul-Y 22; 1941- W. SANFORD ,R'e. 21,862

DROP BOTTOM MINE CAR 7 Original Filed Dec. 17, 1932 a Shets-Sheet 4 H. w. sANFolD DROP BOTTOM MINE CAR July 22', 1941.

Originai Filed Dec. 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 H. w. VSANFORD Re. 21,862

July 22, 1941.

' DROP BOTTOM MINE CAR Original Filed Dec. 17, 1952 8 Sheets-Shes} a O I/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII GMmM M y 22, 1 H. w. SANFORD 7 DROP BOTTOM MINE CAR Original Filed Dec. 17, 1952 a Sheets-Sheet 'r v July 22, 194.1.

H. w. SANFORD DRQP BOTTOMMINE CAR Original Filed Dec. 17, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 III l lllll Reiaued July 22, 1941 DROP BOTTOM MINE CAB Hugh W. Sanford, Knoxville, Tenn.

Original No. 2,095,348, dated October 12, 1937, Serial No. 22,661, May 21, 1935, which is a continuation of application Serial No. 647,795, December 17, 1932. Application [or reissue March 17, 1939, Serial No. 262,551

66 Claims. ((ll. 105-364) V I plane of the axle. I reinforce the side sill at This application is a continuation of my application, Serial No. 647,795, filed December 17, 1932.

This invention relates to drop bottom mine cars and its object is to obtain a very large capacity with slow height and a wide top.

The capacity of drop bottom cars for the same overall dimension is less than the maximum capacity of rotary cars or end dump cars, because in the drop bottom cars, the flare plates or wing bottoms must slope at an angle to the horizontal greater than the angle of repose of the lading material. In end dump cars and rotary cars on the contrary, the side wing bottoms can be flatly horizontal and no upward slope is required.

Since, however, carrying capacity is one of the essential points of a mine car, it isessential that the drop bottom car he designed to give the very maximum capacity for the same overall dimensions.

This invention provides a drop bottom car having a capacity comparable with that of an ordinary rotary car with the same overall dimensions. At the same time, the design is simple and comparatively inexpensive.

In drop-bottom mine cars which have been used heretofore where side sills are located on the inside of the wheels, the side plates slope off at an angle of about 35 to 40 degrees from the horizontal, and with the side plates meeting the side sill so as to shed the coal over the tops of the side sills. The side plates. are indented slightly to form hoods over the wheels. With a certain angle of slope on the side plate, it is impossible to get a very wide car without having a very high car at the same time.

In order to get greater width in drop bottom mine cars without an increase in the height, it

has been proposed to locate the side sills outside the inside of the wheels and yet the slope of the side plates cuts the wheels at a low point with hoods extending over the wheels. This enables the wheels to be readily removed.

This construction is made possible by the use of a side sill witha low vertical flange. In fact, the side sill is disposed almost entirely below the UNITED STATES PATENT omen the point where-it is penetrated by the axle and/or wheel by means of a casting'which may be securely attached to or formed integral with the side sill and which casting has the top of the hood extending therefrom. The casting reinforces the angle bar side sill to the proper extent to build back the strength of the side sill for taking all loads vertically, transversely and longitudinally. The casting acts as a pedestal box as well as a part of the hood. By its use, the hood construction will be very much simplified and reduced in cost. The casting may also act as a wedge for the drop bottom doors, where it is desirable to wedge the doors into position when they are closed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation 01' a mine car to which i the invention is applied;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the car with the .wheel and axle removed;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view therethrough. 1

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the casting detached;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. '7 is a side elevation showing the inner side 01' the casting opposite from that shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is an edge view of the casting;

Fig. 9 is a similar view of. the opposite edge thereof;

Fig. 10 is a partial side elevation showing a somewhat difierent form of the invention;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view therethrough on the line llll of Fig. 10;

'Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view of the pedestal member detached, taken approximately i of Fig. 13;

on the line II-l2 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view on the line l3-l3 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 14 is a detail of a. similar view showing the lower edge of the.sloping side rolled;

Fig. 15 is an inside elevation of the pedestal member shown in Figs. 10 to 12;

Fig. 16 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 1'7 is a detail sectional view on the line ll--|l of Fig. 10;

Fig. 18 is a similar view on the line iB--i8 of Fig. 10; Fig. 19 is a detail'sectional view taken approximately on the lines l9-I9 of Figs. 1'? and 18;

Fig. 20 is a sectional view on the line 20-40 Fig. 21 is aside elevation of a portion of the ends Al, the sides A being sloping to shed into a central opening controlled by drop bottom doors, A2, which form the bottom ofthe car, although the invention is not limited to any particular kind of drop bottom doors or in fact to whether or not the bottom is stationary or provided with doors.

Side sills B support the body and have the usual combined bumper and draw bar structure C, connected therewith, which are also connected with the end walls, Al. I

The doors A2 are shown for purposes of illustration as three in number and are hinged for successive dropping, being released automatically by the lever A3, at an end of the car.

The side sills B are shown in Fig. 4 as of angle bar construction, each having an upright flange Bi, and a bottom flange B2, as represented particuiarly in Figs. 3 and 4. Theupright flange BI is notched out as'at B3 to receive the hubs D of the wheels DI. The axles D2, are supported by the wheels DI. The upright flange Bl of each side sill B, is disposed relatively close to the flanges of the car wheels, but the upper edge of the flange BI, preferably terminates at a point below the horizontal plane of the upper edge of the car axles D2., The sloping side A extends downwardly to the upper edge of the side sill flange BI and is secured to the side sill B, but as shown in Fig. 4, the low termination of said flange disposes the plane of the sloping side at a point well below the upper edge of the car wheel. The slope of the sides A should be at an angle of greater than 33 degrees to a horizontal plane, the,

' of wheel hoods A5 and to support the inner edges of the tow of said wheel hoods. Each pedestal member is provided with a friction bearing opening Eli for loosely receiving the axle D2 formin a boxing around the axle and pe itting free withdrawal of, the axle therefrom. These pedestal members are shown 'as'of cast construction. each havin an upper flange El to which the inner edge of the hood A5 is bolted or riveted or otherwise sezzured. The pedestal member thus not" only reinforce the side sills. but they also support the inner edges of the tons of the wheel hoods and provide very dee wheel hoods into the low sloping sides. At the same time, the hoods act as truss members to sup ort the sides of the car. In the form shown, t e hoods A5 together with the pedestal members E form hoodstructures, of which the inner closure walls are. of cast metal. I The pedestal member E. has a horizontally disposed angular projection E2 formed on the inner face thereof to which is bolted or riveted a tie angle E3, which extends transversely of the car body and is attached to the corresponding pedestal member on the opposite side in a similar manner. This serves as a truss between the opposite sides of the car and between the oppositely disposed wheel hoods and also as a hood over the axles.

Formed on the inner face. of each pedestal member E is a plate member 134, which may be of'the shape as shown in Fig. '7, wherein it receives an end of the hinge rod Ali which supports a door A2. If this invention is used in a drop bottom car which wedges the doors back in place when they come into their closed positions, the edge E5 of the plate memberEl serves as such a wedge.

the tops of the axles where the axles and wheel hubs cut through the side sills, so that the ends of the side sills will 'not droop. By means of these pedestal members, all of the strength necessary for supporting the end load is restored to the construction. The wheel hood itself in this construction has sufficient depth to serve as a gusset strengthening member to support the load on the flare plate of the car body side between the two ends of the car. The pedestal member forms the vertical end member for the hood and maybe brought much closer'to the wheel flange than with the old form of side sills. At the same time, the side sillsare inside the wheels and are much lower in height, terminating at points below the tops of the axles. This permits the flare plate to go off at a very much lower level sirable to make them merely of plates which will be sufficient for the purpose or they may be formed integral with the side sills, but it is preferable to have the pedestal members separate from the sills.

Referringto Figs. 10 and 11 of the drawings, wherein I have shown a somewhat different form of the invention, the sloping sides A have outturned flanges A8 between which hoods A5, are disposed and secured, each hood having its top supported at its inner edge by a pedestal member designated in these figures by the character F, which is used in a similiar manner to the pedestal member E, described above, but it'has an offset portion Fl receiving the hub D of the wheel DI, and also having an opening F2, through which the axle D2 extends. The projection F3 receives an end of the tie member E3 secured thereto.

The sloping sides A have longitudinal bracing members G extending therealong between adjacent hoods A5, and between the hoods and the ends of the car and with flanged upper edges GI attached to the sloping sides A thereby forming a box girder-construction. Filler blocks G2 are arranged at intervals between the bracing members G and the sloping sides A, being securely held in place as by rivets or other fastening means G3 passing through thefiller blocks, the

A9 in Fig. 13 or may be rolled up as at Alli in Fig. 14, in order to brace or reinforce the extreme lower edge of the sloping side.

The use oi the upright bracing members G which extend approximately from end to end of the car, reinforcing the sloping sides gives suflicient rigidity to the side plates so that they will securely support the ends of the car. This structure forms a box girder construction out of the side plates from the wheels to the ends of the car with sufficient rigidity for holding up the load against drooping.

The supporting of the end sill by the sloping sides is shown in Figs. 21 and 22. The end sill structure is designated generally by the character H, and has an upright plate HI, abutting against the end Al of the ear body.

The lower edge of this plate is turned horizontally and serves as a shelf on which the bumper block rests. Corner angles All between the sides A and the ends Al extend downward far enough to be riveted or otherwise secured to this plate HI. On the outside of the side A is a flat gusset which is riveted or otherwise secured to the sloping side A and has an out-turned flange All riveted or otherwise secured to the bumper plate Hi. This forms a secure support for the bumper structures from the sloping sides of the car.

This structure of the car body is such as to dispose the edges of the drop bottom doors close to the inside faces of the wheels and in fact a distance less than four inches, providing only a working clearance therebetween and the longitudinal walls of the hood coverings and the car body sides are approximately at the edges of the doors. The planes of the sloping sides A start from a very low point and cut the wheels approximately midway of their heights with the inner edges of the slopes starting at a point below the horizontal plane of the top edges of the axles thereby providing "greatly increased capacity for the car.

I claim:

1. In a vehicle, the combination in a lading body, 01 central drop door portion, and stationary side wing-portions sloped at angles greater than 33 degrees to ahorizontal ,plane and adapted for the complete discharge of loose coal or other lading through the dropped doors, side sill-members supporting the side wing-portions of the body, wheels disposed outside of said sill-members and supporting the same, axlesfor the wheels, the treads of the wheels projecting deeply into the side wing-portions, and deeply'recessed wheel-hood coverings over the tops of the wheels, the inner portions of the side wing-portions meeting the sill members at points below the horizont'al plane of the tops of the axles.

2. In a vehicle, the'combination in a lading body, ofa central drop door portion, and stationary side wing-portions extending to the drop door portion, said side wing-portions being sloped at angles greater than 33 degrees to a horizontal plane for the complete discharge of coal or other loose lading into the central portion, wheels with treads projecting deeply into the side wing-portions, axles for the wheels, deeply recessed wheelhcod coverings connected with the wing-portions and disposed over the ,tops of the wheels; and longitudinally extending sill-members inside the wheels, said sill-members having upright portions, the inner portions of the side wing-portions meeting the upright portions of the sillmembers at points below the horizontal plane 01' the tops of the axles.

3. In a drop-bottom coal mining or similar rail car,.the combination in a lading body, of a central drop door portion, and stationary side wing-portions, said side wing-portions being side wing-portions, deeply recessed wheel-hood coverings connected with the wing-portions and disposed over the tops of the wheels, longitudinally extending sill-members inside the wheels, and car axles associated with the wheels and supporting the sill-members, the inner portions or the side wing-portions meeting the sill-members at points below the horizontal plane of the tops of the axles.

4. In a drop-bottom coal mining or similar rail car, the combination in a lading body, of a central drop door portion, and stationary sidewing-portions sloped at anglesgreater than 33 degrees to a horizontal plane and adapted for thecomplete discharge of coal or other loose lading through the drop door portion, car wheels projecting deeply into the sloping side wingportions, axles for the wheels, the plane of the I sloping side wing-portions cutting through the upright outer edge line of the adjacent car wheel outside of the track: gauge line, and longitudinal side sill-members disposed inside the wheels and having upwardly extending portions, the inner portions of the side wing-portions meeting the upwardlyextending portions of the the sill-members at points below the horizontal plane of the tops of the axles.

5. In a drop-bottom coal mining or similar rail car, the combination in a lading body, of

a central drop door portion, and stationary side wing-portions sloped at angles greater than 33 degrees to a horizontal plane and adapted for the complete discharge of coal or other loose lading through the drop door portion, car wheels projecting deeply into the sloping side wingportions, the plane of the sloping side wingportions cutting throughthe upright outer edge line of the adjacent car wheel outsideof the track gauge line, longitudinal side sill-members disposed inside the wheels, deeply recessed wheelhood coverings over the tops of the wheels, said hood coverings being sloped so as not to prevent the discharge of the lading into the central portion, the side sill-members supporting the wingportions, and axles supporting the said sill-members and having, spindles for the wheels, the inner the combination in a lading body, of carwheels,

a central portion lying entirely between standard track rails, side wing-portions sloped to discharge into the central portion, drop doors for the centralportion, deep hood-covering for the wheels and connected with the side wing-portions, axles supported by the wheels, and side sills associated with the axles and supporting the side wing-portions inside the wheels, the sloping side wing-portions being Joined to the side sills at points below the horizontal plane of the tops of the axles.

8. In a vehicle, the combination in a lading body, of a. central portion and side wing-portions sloped to discharge into the central portion, dropdoors for the central portion, wheels projecting deeply into the sloping side wing-portions, hoodcoverings extending over the wheels, axles associated with the wheels, and side sill-members with substantially upright portions and supported by the axles inside the wheels and having upper edges of the upright portions disposed below the horizontal plane of the tops of the axles.

9. In a vehicle, the combination in a. lading body, of a central portion and side wing-portions sloped to discharge into the central portion, drop doors for the central portion, wheels projecting deeply into the sloping side wing-portions, hood coverings extending over the wheels, axles associated with the wheels, and side sill-members with substantially upright portions and supported by the axles inside the wheels and having upper edges of the upright portions disposed below the horizontal plane of the tops of the axles, the sloping side wing-portions extending over the upper edges of the side sill-members at points beneath the plane of the tops of the axles.

10. In a drop-bottom mining orsimilar rail I car with a lading body having a central portion plane of the tops of. the car axles, whereby the lading is discharged through openings made by the dropping of the doors, and for complete dis-'- charge between standard track rails, car wheels projecting deeply intosaid side wing-portions of the lading body, deeply recessed hood-coverings over the tops of the wheels and sloped so as not to prevent the discharge of the lading through the dropped bottom doors, and load-supporting sill-members extending longitudinally of the body and located between two oppositely disposed wheels and located below the sloping bottoms of the side wing-portions.

11. In a mine or similar rail car with a lading body having a central portion and side wing-portions, car Wheels extending deeply into the side wing-portions, car axles, and a bottom to the lading body having at least substantial portions located below the horizontal plane of the axes of the car wheels, the combination of longitudinal load-supporting sill-members for said lading body having substantially upright portions lying between the oppositley disposed car wheels, pedestal members attached to the sill-members and extending upwardly therefrom, said pedestal members having friction bearings for the axles, and wheel hoods attached to the side wing-portions of the lading body structure and extending over the pedestal members.

12. In a mine or other rail car with a lading body having a central portion and side wing-portions, car wheels extending deeply into the side wing-portions, car axles extending from side to side of the car and connected at their opposite ends with the wheels, and a bottom to the lading body having at least substantial portions located below the horizontal pane of the axes of the wheels, the combination of longitudinal loadsupporting sill members for said lading body having substantially upright portions lying between the oppositely disposed car wheels, pedestal members attached to the sill members and extending upwardly therefrom, said pedestal members having supporting bearings for the axles in a loose relationship constructed for free withdrawal of the axles therefrom, and wheel hoods attached to the side wing-portions of the lading body structure and extending over the pedestal members.

13. In a mineorsimilar rail car with a lading body having side wing-portions, car wheels extending. deeply into the side wing-portions, car axles, and a bottom for the lading body having at least substantial portions thereof located below the horizontal plane of themes of the carwheels, the combination of longitudinal load supporting still members for said lading body having substantially upright portions between the oppositely disposed car wheels, pedestal members attached to the sill members and extending upwardly therefrom, said pedestal members having supporting bearings receiving the axles in a loose relationship being constructed for free withdraw al of the axles therefrom, and wheel hoods attached to the-pedestal members and extending over the wheels.

14. In a four wheel mine car, the combination in a lading body, of a central portion and side wing-portions sloped to discharge into the central portion, side sills supporting the side wingportions, pedestal members reinforcing the side sills and extending upwardly therefrom, said pedestal members having axle receiving friction bearings therein, and wheel-hoods attached to tble side wing-portions and to the pedestal mem- 15. In a four-wheel mine car having car wheels, and car axles extending from side to side of the car and connected with the wheels, the combination in a lading body of a central portion and side wing-portions sloped to discharge into the central portion, side sills supporting the side wing-portions, pedestal members reinforcing the side sills and extending upwardly therefrom, said pedestal members having supporting bearings for the axles in a loose relation-ship constructed for free withdrawal of the axles therefrom, and

wheel hoods attached to the side wing-portions and to thepedestal members.

16. In a vehicle, the combination in a lading body, of a central portion having drop doors, side wing-portions sloped to discharge into the central portion, wheels projecting deeply into the sloping side wing-portions, axle members carried by the wheels, side sills carried by the axle members and supporting the side wing-portions, side sill reinforcing members connected therewith and extending upwardly to points above the side sills, and wheel-hood coverings extending over the wheels and attached to the sloping side wingportions, said hood-coverings having the inner edges thereof attached to the side sill reinforcing members.

17. In a drop-bottom mine or similar rail car, the combination in a lading body, of side wing portions having a central opening therebetween and slop'ed to discharge into said central opening, drop-doormeans for closing said centralopenings, wheels projecting deeply into the sloping side wing-portions, side sills carried by the wheels,

and supporting the side wing portions, side sill reinforcing members connected therewith and extending upwardly therefrom to points above the upper edges of the side sills and extending longitudinally of the car, said reinforcing members having the inner faces of the main portions thereof approximately in the vertical planes of the edges of the central opening; and wheel-hood coverings extending over the wheels and having their inner edges attached to the upper edges of the side sill reinforcing members.

18. In a mine or similar rail car, the combination of a side sill having an upright section, said upright section having an opening therein for receiving the hub portion of a wheel, and a reinforcing member for the side sill having an axle receiving opening therein cooperating with the upright section, said axle receiving opening being arranged with the top thereof above the top of the upright section of the side sill.

19. In a four wheel mine car, the combination of a side sill having upright and horizontal flanges, the upright flange having a notch 'in the upper edge thereof and of suflicient size for receiving a hub portion of a flanged wheel, said upupright flange of the side sill, a reinforcing member attached to the side sill between the horizontal and upright flanges and abutting the upright flange in position to reinforce the edges of the notch, said reinforcing member extending above the upper edge of the side sill and having an axle receiving opening therein for cooperating with the wheel hub receiving notch in the upright flange.

20. In a four wheel mine car, the combination of a side sill having upright and horizontal flanges, said upright flange having a notch in the upper edge thereof'and of sufflcient size and positioned to receive a hub portion of a. flanged wheel, a combined wheel and axle structure having a wheel hub portion projecting into said notch, the upright flange of the side sill being disposed relatively close to the wheel flange and having the horizontal flange of the side sill projecting inwardly from .the' wheel, and-aside sill reinforcing member extending above the upper edge of the side sill and having a portion abutting and reinforcing the edges of the opening, said member having an axle receiving opening therein.

21. In a vehicle, the combination of side sills having upright sections, wheel and axle structures supporting the side sills, pedestal members secured to the side sills and having inwardly extending flange projections carried thereby, and a tie member secured to the flange projections of opposite pedestal members and extending across between said members, the major portion of said tie member being disposed above the upright sections of the side sills.

22. In a dumping mine or similar rail car having car wheels and car axles, and a lading body with a central portion having a bottom including a plurality of transversely hinged drop doors located at least insubstantial part below the horizontal plane of the axes of the car wheels and with side wing-portions having stationary bottoms sloped upwardly and outwardly whereby coal or other loose lading may be completely disly disposed car wheels and having upright portions lying entirely below the horizontal plane of the tops of the car axles.

23. In a dumping mine or similar rail car having car wheels and car axles, and a lading body with a central portion having a bottom including a plurality of transversely hinged drop doors located at least in substantial part below the horizontal plane of the axes of the car wheels and with side wing-portions having stationary bottoms sloped upwardly and outwardly whereby coal or other loose lading may be completely discharged through the dropped doors and between the standard tracl-r rails of the car, the combination of longitudinal load-supporting sill structures for said lading body located between two oppositely disposed car wheels and having substantially upright faces in substantially upright planes, the said upright faces affording sealing relationship with the edges of the closed doors and being located entirely below the horizontal plane of the tops of the car axles.

24. In a bottom dumping mine or similar rail car, the combination of car wheels, car axles, a plurality of transversely hinged drop doors located at least insubstantial part below the horizontal plane of the axes of the car wheels, and

car structure comprising hopper shaped wingportions with stationary bottoms sloped for the complete discharge of coal or other loose lading between standard track rails, said stationary bottoms merging into substantially upright portions located entirely below the horizontal plane of the tops of the axles and serving as sealing walls for the edges of the closed doors, and axle supportmeans attached to the car structure and located laterally inside the wheels.

25. In a bottom dumping mine or similar rail car, the combination of car wheels, car axles, a plurality of transversely hinged drop doors located at least in substantial part below the horizontal plane of the axes of the car wheels,.hopper shaped wing-portions with stationary bottoms sloped for the complete discharge of coal or other loose lading between standard track rails, said stationary bottoms merging into substantially upright portions located entirely below the horizontal plane of the tops of the axles and serving as sealing walls for the edges of the closed doors, and metallic sections located below the sloping stationary bottomsand between the edges of the closed doors and the adjacent carw heels, said sections serving at least in part as longitudinal means for supporting the lading load.

26. In a bottom dumping mine or similar rail car, the combination of car wheels, car axles, a plurality of transversely hinged drop doors located at leastin substantial part below the horizontal plane of the axes of the car wheels, hopper shaped. wing-portions with stationary bottoms sloped for the complete discharge of coal or other loose lading between standard track rails, said stationary bottoms merging into substantially upright portions located entirely below the horizontal plane of the tops of the axles and serving as sealing walls for the edges of the closed doors, and metallic sections located below the sloping stationary bottoms and between the edges of the closed doors and the adjacent car wheels, each of the said sections having a portion located substantially in a horizontal plane and another portion substantially in an upright plane and saidsections serving at least in part as longitudinal means for supporting the lading load.

27. In a drop-bottom mine or similar rail car, the combination of car wheels, car axles, a lading body with a substantially horizontal central por- ,ing at least in substantial part below the horizontal plane of the axes of the car wheels and tion and wing-portions sloped upwardly from the central portion for the discharge of all the lading into the.central portion, drop doors lying at least in substantial part below ,the horizontal plane of the axes of the car wheels and located entirely between oppositely disposed car wheels,

sloped stationary bottoms tor the wing-portions 28. In a drop-bottom mine or similar rail car.

ing body with a substantially horizontal central portion and wing-portions-sloped upwardly from the central portion for the discharge of all the lading into the central portion, drop doors lying at least in substantial part below the horizontal plane of the axes of the car wheels and located entirely between oppositely disposed car wheels, sloped stationary bottoms tor the wing-portions of'the lading body which sloped bottoms lie in planes cutting through the upright edge lines of the adjacent car wheels outside the track gauge lines, and the said wing bottoms rising on slopes from a level below the horizontal plane of the axes of the car wheels, deep hood-coverings over the car wheels, and longitudinal load-supporting flanged metal sections lying between oppositely disposed car wheels and underneath the slope of the wingbottoms, the side wing-portions having substantially upright walls serving as sealing walls for the edges of the drop doors.

' 29. In a drop-bottom mine or similar rail car, the combination of car wheels, car axles, a lading body with a substantially horizontal central portion and wing-portions sloped upwardly from the central portion'for the discharge of all the lading into the central portion, drop doors lying at least in substantial part below the horizontal plane of the axes of the car wheels and located entirely between oppositely disposed car wheels, sloped stationary bottoms for the wing-portions of the lading body which sloped bottoms lie in planes cutting through the upright edge lines of the adjacent car wheels outside the track gauge lines, and the said wing bottoms rising on slopes from a level below the horizontal plane of the axes of the car wheels, deep hood-coverings over the car wheels, and longitudinal loadsupporting metal sections lying between oppositely disposed car wheels, the hood-coverings,

having upright longitudinal walls located substantially in the same upright planes as the ad- Jacent edges of the drop doors, and the hoodcoverings having transverse walls engaging the sloping side wing-bottoms above and below the horizontal plane of the axes of the car wheels.

30. In a drop-bottom mine or similar rail car, the combination of \car wheels, car axles, a lading body with a substantially horizontal central portion and wing-portions sloped upwardly from the central portion for the discharge of all the lading into the central portion, drop doors lylocated entirely between oppositely disposed car wheels, sloped stationary bottoms for the wingportions of the lading body which sloped bot-' toms lie in planes cutting through the upright edge lines of [the adjacent car wheels outside the track gauge lines, and the said wing bottoms rising on slopes from a level below the horizontal plane of the axes of the car wheels, deep hood-coverings over the car wheels, and longitudinal load-supporting flanged metal sections lying between oppositely disposed car wheels and underneath the slope of the wing-bottoms, the

hOOd-COVBriIlgs having upright longitudinal walls located substantially in the same upright planes as the adjacent edges of the drop doors, and the hood-coverings having transverse walls engaging the sloping side wing-bottoms above and below the horizontal plane or the axes of the car wheels.

- 31. In a drop-bottom mine or similar rail car,

the combination of car wheels, car axles, a lading body with a substantially horizontal central portion and wing-portions sloped upwardly from the central portion'for the discharge of all the ladinginto the central portion, drop doors lying at least in substantial part below the horizontal plane of the axes of the car wheels and located entirely between oppositely disposed car wheels, sloped stationary bottoms for the wing-portions or the lading body which sloped bottoms lie in planes cutting through the upright edge lines of the adjacent car wheels outside the track gauge lines, and the said wing bottoms rising on slopes from a level below the horizontal plane of the axes of the car wheels, deep hood-coverings over the car wheels, and longitudinal load-supporting flanged metal sections lying between oppositely disposed car wheels and underneath-the slope of the wing-bottoms, the hood-coverings having upright longitudinal walls substantially in the same upright planes as the adjacent edges of the drop doors and said upright walls being located close to the flanges of the adjacent car wheels whereby there are only working clearances between the car wheels and said walls 32. In a vehicle, the combination of axles, wheels, 9. lading bottom lying at least in substantial part below the horizontal plane of the axes of the wheels, a lading body having stationary side -wing-portions, transverse sheet metal hood-coverings over the wheels and fasbers supported by the axles and having substan- 4 tially upright walls above the levelof the tops of the axles which serve as side closure walls for the lading body near the wheels and at least in part as supporting walls for the inside ends of the sheet metal hood-coverings.

33 In a mine or similar rail car, the combination of car axles, car wheels, a lading bottom lying at least in substantial part below the horizontal plane of theaxes of the car wheels, a lading body having stationary side wing-portions, transverse sheet metal hood-coverings over the car wheels and fastened to the wing-bottoms, and integral cast metal pedestal members supported by the car axles and having substantially upright walls above the level of the tops of the axles which-serve as side closure walls for the lading body near the car wheels and at least inpart as supporting walls for the inside ends of the sheet metal hood-coverings.

34. In a vehicle, the combination of axles,

stantial part below the horizontal plane oithe axes of thewheels, a ladlng body having stationary side wing-portions, transverse sheet metal hoo'd-eoverings over the wheels and i'astened to the wing-bottoms, and pedestal members supported by the axles and having substantially upright walls above the level oi. the tops the axles which serve as side closure walls for the lading body near the wheels and at least in part as supporting walls for the inside ends of the sheet metal hood-coverings, and transverse tie bars connecting oppositely disposed pedestal members. t

35. In a drop bottom coal mining or similar rail car, the combination of car wheels, car axles, car structure comprising a central lading bodyportion with drop bottom doors and disposed entirely between standard track rails, side wing portions having stationary wing-bottoms with sections sloping downwardly from points outside the car wheels in planes cutting the outside upright lines of the cross sections of the adjacent wheels well below the top tread lines, deep metal hood-coverings extending transversely over the tops of the car wheels, the transverse wall of the said hood-coverings intersecting said sloping sections of the wing-bottoms in lines which extend below the horizontal plane of the axes of the car wheels, and axle support-means attached to the car structure and located laterally inside the wheels.

36. In a drop bottom coal mining or similar rail car, the combination of car wheels, car axles, a central lading body portion with drop bottom doors and disposed entirely between standard track rails, side wing portions having stationary wing-bottoms with sections sloping downwardly from points outside the car wheels in planes cutting the outside upright lines of the cross sections of the adjacent wheels well below the top tread lines, deep metal hood-coverings extending transversely over the tops of the car wheels, the transverse walls of the said hood-- coverings intersecting said sloping sections of the wing-bottoms in lines which extend below the horizontal plane of the axes of the car wheels, the wing-bottoms being flanged downwardly at the bottom of the slopes into longitudinal upright wall-sections, which upright sections are stiflened at the lower portions by outwardly projecting flanges whereby longitudirial beam members are formed for supporting the lading load. i

37. In a drop bottom coal mining or similar rail car, the combination of car wheels, car axles, a

central lading body portion with drop bottom doors and disposed entirely between standard track rails, side wing portions having stationary wing-bottoms with sections sloping downwardly from points outside the car wheels in planes cutting the outside upright lines of the cross sections of the adjacent wheels well below the top tread lines, deep metal hood-coverings extending transversely over the tops of the car wheels, the transverse walls of the said hood-coverings intersecting said sloping sections of the wing-bottoms in lines which extend below the horizontal plane of the axes of the car wheels, longitudinal loadsupporting sill-members inside the car wheels and having upright sill sections lying entirely below the horizontal plane of the axes of the car wheels, and longitudinal flanged metal load-supporting means located outside the track rails and underneath and attached to the under side of the wing-bottoms.

38. In a vehicle with wheels and axles, the combination of a lading body with stationary wing-bottoms sloping upwardly and outwardly in planes which cut through the adjacent wheels, longitudinal load supporting stiflened' sill-sections with their lower portions located inside the wheels and ly ng entirely below the horizontal plane of the axes of the wheels, and transversely hinged drop-doors between the wheels and at least in substantial part below the horizontal plane of the axes of the wheels and with each of their longitudinal sealing edges located in planes at a distance of less than four inches from the upright plane of the inside of the treads oi the adjacent wheel's;

39. In a bottom-dumping mine or similar rail car, the combination in a lading body, of a central portion and side wing-portions sloped to discharge into the central portion, discharge doors ,for the central; portion, wheels projecting into the slopingside wing-portions, axles for the wheels, hood coverings extending over the wheels,

longitudinal side sill-members having substan-' tially upright portions located between the upright'planes of the inside faces of oppositely disposed wheels, axle supporting bearings attached to the side sill-members, apertures in said axle supporting bearings for receiving the axles, the tops of the -apertures at one side of the car being located in a horizontal plane which intersects the plane of the sloping side wing-portion of the lading body outwardly of the vertical plane of the sill member at the same side of the car.

40; In a bottom-dumping mine or similar-rail car, the combination in a lading body, of a central portion and side wing-portions sloped to discharge into the central portion, discharge doors for the central portion, wheels projecting into the sloping side wing-portions, axles for the wheels, hood coverings extending over the wheels, longitudinal side sill-members having substantially upright portions located between the upright planes of the inside faces of oppositely disposed wheels, axle supporting bearings attached to the side sill-members, apertures in said axle supporting bearings for receiving the axles, the tops of the apertures at one side of the car being located in a horizontal plane which intersects the plane of the sloping side wing-portion of the lading body outwardly of the vertical plane of the sill member at the same side of the car, and tie members extending between oppositely disposed axle supporting bearings above the axles and attached to said axle supporting bearings.

41. In a bottom-dumping mine or similar rail car,'the combination in a lading body, of a central drop-door portion, side wing portions sloped to discharge into the central portion, discharge doors for the central portion, wheels projecting into adjacent sloping side wing portions, axles for the wheels, hood coverings for the wheels, longitudinal load-supporting side sill-members having their lowest portions located between the upright planes of the inside faces of oppositely disposed wheels, and support-bearings for the axles connected with the side sill-members, each of said bearings having a substantially upright web the inside upright plane of the innermost part of which cuts the horizontal plane of the uppermost part of the axle in said bearing at a point located within the cross-sectional area or the lading body at a section through the sloping side wing-portions.

42. In a bottom-dumping mine or similar rail car, the combination in a lading body, of a central portion, side wing portions sloped to discharge into the central portion, discharge doors fox-the central portion, wheels projecting into adjacent sloping side wing portions, axles for the wheels, hood coverings for the wheels, longitudinal load-supporting side sill-members having their lowest portions located between the upright planes of the inside faces of oppositely disposed wheels, support-bearings for the axles attached to the side sill-members, each of said bearings having a substantially upright web the inside upright plane of the innermost part of which cuts the horizontal plane of the uppermost part of the axle in said bearing at a point located within the cross-sectional area of the lading body at a section through the sloping side wing-portions, and tie members extending between parts of said oppositely disposed supportbearings above the axles and said tie members being attached to said support-bearings.

43. In a mine or similar rail car. with a lading body having a central portion and side wingportions, car wheels extending deeply into the.

side wing-portions, car axles, anda bottom to the lading body having at least substantial portions located below the horizontal plane of the axes of the car wheels, the combination of. longitudinal load-supporting sill-members having substantially upright portions lying between the oppositely disposed car wheels, pedestal members attached to the inner surfaces of the substantially upright portions of the sill-members, the pedestal members having apertures therein for receiving the car axles, and wheel hoods attached to the side wing-portions of the lading body and to the pedestal members.

44. In a mine'or similar rail car with a lading body having a central portion and side wingportions, car wheels extending deeply into the side wing-portions, car axles, and a bottom to the lading body having at least substantial portions located below the horizontal plane of the axes of the car wheels, the combination of longitudinal load-supporting sill-members having substantially upright portions lying between the oppositely disposed car wheels, pedestal members attached to the inner surfaces of the substantially upright portions of the sill-members,

the pedestal members having apertures therein for receiving the car axles, and wheel hoods attached to the side wing-portions of the lading body and extending over the pedestal members.

45. In a mine or similar rail car with a lading body having a central portion and side wingportions, car wheels extending deeply into the side wing-portions, car axles, and a bottom to the lading body having at least substantial portions located below the horizontal plane of the axes of the car wheels, the combination of longij tudinal load-supporting sill-members having substantially upright portions lying between the oppositely disposed car wheels, pedestal memtions, car wheels extending deeply into th side wing-portions, car axles, and a bottom to the lading body havlngat least substantial portions located below the horizontal plane of the axes of the car wheels, the combination of longitudinal load-supporting sill-membershaving substantially upright portions lying between the oppositely disposed car wheels, pedestal members attached to the inner surfaces of the substan-- tially upright portions of the sill-members, the pedestal members having apertures therein for receiving the car axles, wheel hoods attached to the side wing-portions of the lading body and extending over the pedestal members, and tie members extending between'oppositely disposed pedestal members and attached to saidpedestal members.

47. In a four wheel mine car, the combination in a lading body, of a central portion and side wing-portions sloped to discharge into the central portion, axles for the car Wheels, side sills supporting the side wing-portions, pedestal members attached to the inner surfaces of the side sills, the pedestal members having apertures therein for receiving the axles, and wheel hoods attached to the side wing-portions of the lading body and to the pedestal members.

48. In a four wheel mine car, the combination in a lading body, of a central portion and side wing-portions sloped to discharge into the central portion, axles for the car wheels, side sills supporting the side wing-portions, pedestal members attached to the inner surfaces of the side sills, the pedestal members having apertures therein for receiving the axles, and wheel hoods attached to the side wing-portions of the lading body and extending over the pedestal members. 49. In a four wheel mine car, the combination in a lading body, of a central portion and side wing-portions sloped to discharge into the central portion, axles for the car wheels, side sills supporting the side wing-portions, pedestal members attached to the inner surfaces of the side sills, the pedestal members having apertures therein for receiving the axles, wheel hoods attached to the side wing-portions of the lading body and .to the pedestal members, and tie members extending between oppositely disposed pedestal members and attached to said pedestal members.

50. Ina four wheel minecar, the combination in a lading body, of a central portion and side wing-portions sloped to discharge int'othe central portion, axles for the car wheels, side sills supporting the side wing-portions pedestal members attached to the inner surfaces of the side sills, the pedestal members having apertures therein for receiving the axles, wheel hoods attached to the side wing-portions of the lading body an d extending over the pedestal members, and tie members extending between oppositely disposed pedestal members and attached to said pedestal members.

51., In a vehicle, the combination in a lading body, of a central portion and side wing-portions sloped to discharge into ,the central portion,

wheels extending into the side wing-portions,

axles, longitudinal load supporting sill-members having substantially upright porti'ons lying be-li tween oppositely disposed wheels, hood-structures extending over the wheels with portions extween oppositely disposed hood-structures and attached to said hood-structures, said tie members having the major portions thereof disposed I above the horizontal plane of the upper edges of the sill-members. o

52. In a vehicle, the combination of a side sill upper edge to receive a hub of a wheel, whereby said upright portion is disposed relatively close to the, inner face of the wheel, and a reinforcing truss memberifor the side sill and secured thereto, said trussmember having a. portion extending ,across the hub portion of the wheel disposed in the side sill notch. l

53. In a vehicle, the combination of a side sill having upright and horizontal flanges, said upright flange having a notch formed in the upper edge thereof and of suflicient size and in position to receive a hub portion of a wheel, said upright flange being disposed relatively close to the inner wing-portions, axles for the wheels, hood-struchaving an upright portion with a notch in its 5 a planes of the outer faces of the side sills, whereby said upright faces are disposed relatively close to the inner faces of the wheel flanges.

l 58. In a mine car supported on wheels, the

combination of a side sill having an upwardly extending section with its lower edge below the wheel axes, said upwardly extending section having an opening therein, one of said wheels having a hub projecting into said opening beyond the upwardly extendingplane of the upwardly-extending section, whereby said upwardly extending section is disposedrelatively closeto the inner face of the wheel.

59. In a vehicle supported on wheels, the combination of a side sill havinga substantially upright section with at least portions of its lower edge located below the horizontal plane of the I wheel axes, said vehicle having main axle bearside wing-portions, wheels extending into the side ,turesconnected with the sidewing-portions and extending over the wheels and having inner closure walls rising above the sloping side wingportions and exposed to the lading in the vehicle, and tie means extending between the inner closure walls of oppositely lisposed hood-structures and, attached to, said inner closurewalls abovethe points of juncture of said walls with the slopingside wing portions. I v I 55. In a mine orsirnilar rail car, the combination. in alad'ingb ody, of a central portion and side wing-portions slopedto discharge into the central portion, car wheels extending into the side wing-portions, car axles for the wheels, longitween oppositely disposed car wheels, hood-form structures connected with the side wing-portions and havingltop coverings above the Wheels,v said 0 hood-form'structures having inner wall portions rising above the,slopin g'side"wing-portions and" closing the inner ends of the top, coverings from the lading space of the can and tie means extending between oppositely disposed hood-form structures and attached directly to the inner wall por- I tio'ns thereof .above'the pointsef juncture of said wall portions with the sloping sidewing-portions.

56; In a four wheel mine car having flanged wheels' an-d axles, the combination of a side sill having an upright] portion witha notch in its ,upper edge of su fiicient size to receive a portion of -,a hub of one of said wheels topermitsaid upright portion to be disposedin relatively close relation to the inner face of the wheel flange for increasingthe capacity of the car, and a reinforcing truss member for the side sill and secured thereto,-said truss member having a portion extending across the wheel hub disposed in the side sill notch and cooperating with said notch.

5'7. In a mine or similar rail car, the combination of side sills having upright outer faces with openings therein, flanged wheels, and axles for the car, the wheels having hubs projecting inwardly into said openings beyond the upright ing supports'supporting the vehicle and located between the oppositely disposedwheels, at leastv one of whichbearing supports is connected with the side sill, one of said wheels having a hub projecting inwardly through the upright plane of portions of the outer face of the substantially up-- right section of the side sill, whereby the plane of said upright section adjacent to the said'hub is disposed relatively close to the inner face of the wheel. I

60. In a vehicle supported onlwheels, the combination of a lading body having a longitudinal lading bottom and side and end walls, side sills each having a substantially upright section with at least portions of its lower edge located below the horizontal plane of the wheel axes, each side sill having an upright section extending between a wheel and the adjacent end wall, one of said wheels having a hub projecting inwardly through tudinal load supporting sill-members lying bethe upright plane of portions of the outer face of the substantially upright section of the side sill whereby the plane of said upright section adjacent to said hub is disposed relatively close-to the inner face of the wheel, said side sill having attached thereto an axle supporting bearing for said wheel inwardly thereof,

, 61. In a vehicle for carryinglading, the combination of wheels, axles therefor, a lading body structure having wing lading bottoms outside of the wheelsand a central lading bottom'portion lying at least in, part between oppositely disposed wheels and alsolocat'ed at least in part below the horizontal plane of .the axes of the wheels, longitudinally, extending spaced stiff lowlying sill-structures outside of the central lading bottom portion and ,eachpassing' between and near one of two'o'ppositely disposed wheels and the saidsill-structures being at le a'stfin part off-- set'inwardly toward the longitudinal centralline of thelladingtbody structure where the said sill+structures pass the, adjacent: wheel hubs wherebythe central lading' bottomlportionbetwcen the sillstructures is made wider close to :the ends of, the lading body ,than it'is between the, hubs of, oppositely disposed wheels. I, 62, In a vehicle for carryingv lading the com- ,bination of wheels, axles therefor, a lading body S r1ltu ;;a,. ,e l ies bO PO q i n l i atyleast pait between oppositely disposed wheels and also locatedat least in part below the horiaontal; plane ofthe axes of nthe wheels, longitudinally extending spaced sill-structures outside of the central lading bottom portion and each passing between and nearlone of two oppositely disposed wheels and the said sill-structures being at least in part offset inwardly toward the longitudinal central line of the lading body structure where, the said sill-structures; pass the adjacent wheel hubs whereby more space is created for an axle bearing between the inner face of one 01' said sill-structures and the adjacent wheel hub. 4

63. In a vehicle having a lading body structure with lading bottoms-having greater maximum road clearances outside the wheels than minimum clearances inside, the combination of wheels, axles for the wheels, longitudinal metal sill-means at least in part lying between the upright planes of the inside of the treads o1 oppositely disposed wheels and having upwardly extending sections with portions thereoi located below the horizontal plane of the axes of the wheels, said sill-means having axle supporting bearings attached thereto inwardly oi the wheels, a central longitudinally extending lading bottomportion located between oppositely disposed, sillmeans and having top surface-portions at least in part located below the said horizontal plane, wing lading bottoms each closed relative to the adjacent sill-means and extending outwardly beyond the adjacent sill-means and lying in a plane cutting the adjacent wheels, inner hubs on the wheels extending inwardly towards the longitudinal center line of the lading body of the car past the upwardly extending planes of outside portions of the said upwardly extending sections of the adjacent sill-means as these sections extend away irom the said adjacent hubs towards the respective adjacent ends of the lading body, housing means whereby the said hubs are protected from contact with the lading in the vehicle whereby outside lower portions of said' upwardly extending section of a sill-means on one side of a central lading body portion, as this sill-means extends away from an adjacent wheel hub towards the adjacent end of the lading body of the car, lie in an upright longitudinal plane which vpasses with relatively little clearance in respect to the treads of the adjacent wheels.

64. In a vehicle having a lading body structure with lading bottoms having greater maximum road clearances outside the wheels than minimum clearances inside, the combination of wheels, axles for the wheels, longitudinal metal sill-means at least in part lying between the upright planes of the inside 01' the treads of oppositely disposed wheels and having upwardly extending sections with portions thereof located below the horizontal plane of the axes of the wheels, said sill-means having axle supporting bearings attached thereto inwardly of the wheels,

a centrallongitudinally extending lading bottomportion located between oppositely disposed sillmeans and having top surface-portions at least in part located below the said horizontal plane,- wing lading bottoms each closed relative to the adjacent sill-means and etending outwardly beyond the adjacent sill-means and lying in a plane cutting the adjacent wheels, inner hubs towards the respective adjacent ends of the lad-- ing body; housing means whereby the said hubs are protected from contact with the lading in the vehicle whereby the outside portions 0! the said upwardly extending section of a sill-means on one side oi. the central lading bottom, as this sill-means extends away from an adjacent wheel hubtowards the adjacent end of the lading body of the car lie in a plane cutting the adjacent wheel, whereby the width of the central lading bottom at this end of the lading body is made wider and the capacity of the car is increased.

65. In a car having a lading body with a lading bottom and end walls, the combination of flanged car wheels, axles for the wheels, longitudinal side sill-means supported by the axles at opposite'sides of the body between oppositely disposed wheels, each of said sill-means having an outwardly extending approximately horizontal flange extending longitudinally between a wheel and the adjacent end wall, said flange being disposed with its outer edge in an upright plane outside of the upright plane of portions or the inside flange of an adjacent wheeL.

66. In a wheeled vehicle with a lading body structure and with a drop-bottom lading bottom structure having underneath clearances greater at points outside the wheels than at other points inside the wheels, the combination of axles for on the wheels extending inwardly toward the Y longitudinal center line of the lading body of the car past the upwardly extending planes of outside portions of the said upwardly extending sections of the adjacent sill-means as these sections extend away from the said adjacent hubs the wheels, at least two longitudinally extending and spaced-apart sill-means which at least in part lie at a low level and which at least in part lie between the upright planes of the insides of the treads of oppositely disposed wheels and which have substantially horizontal portions and other upwardly extending portions originating at a low level, the said sill-means being sufllpiently strong themselves to be able to support, without objectionable end-drooping or twisting or warping, the lading in the ends of the car as well as the lading in the sides of the car, said sill-means having axle supporting bearings thereto inwardly of the adjacent wheels, 8. central longitudinally extending lading dropbottom means located between oppositely disposed sill-means and having top surface-portions at least in part located below the horizontal plane of the axes of the wheels, a wing lading-bottom outside of each of the two oppositely disposed sill-means, each being sealed in respect to the adjacent sill-means'and extending outwardly and at least somewhat upwardly beyond the adjacent sill-means, and the two said wing ladingbottoms lying in planes cutting the adjacent wheels, and the tops of the wheels being cov-.

ered to prevent leakage of lading, and a portion or each wing lading-bottom as it passes outwardly and upwardly away from an adjacent sill-means lying in a plane which intersects the horizontal plane of the tops of the axle journals at a point which is located outside of the intersection of the said horizontal plane with a substantially upright longitudinal plane that includes lower portions of the inner face of the said upwardly extending sections of the adjacent side sillmeans. i

HUGH W. SANFORD. 

